What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Corn Starch Modified
AbsorbentDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingBrassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Mannitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Rhamnose
HumectantGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Corn Starch Modified, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Silica, Decyl Glucoside, Glycolic Acid, Boron Nitride, Salicylic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ectoin, Mannitol, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Propyl Gallate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningRhododendron Ferrugineum Extract
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Prunus Persica Flower Extract
MoisturisingPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAlumina
Abrasive
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyether-1
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantLimonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Titanium Dioxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Methicone, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Rhododendron Ferrugineum Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Prunus Persica Flower Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Panthenol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Dimethiconol, Trisiloxane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Alumina, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, T-Butyl Alcohol, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Polyether-1, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Disodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 77492, CI 77491, Limonene, Citral
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateEthylhexyl Triazone (aka Octyl Triazone) is an oil-soluble organic UVB filter. It has peak absorption around 314 nm, right in the middle of the UVB range.
This ingredient is described as one of the most effective UVB filters available and small concentrations are enough to deliver a high SPF thanks to its strong UV absorbing power.
Formulators love it for its stability; its ability to filter UV stays practically unchanged even under intense radiation and it can also help boost the photostability of less stable filters like avobenzone.
It's also a great pick for water resistant products because it's insoluble in water and has a good affinity for keratin.
Because it's a big, heavy molecule, the European Scientific Committee has found to to have very low dermal penetration and negative results for allergenicity.
In vitro testing also showed a low absorption rate and clean results on irritation.
Typical use levels are 1-5% with 5% being the maximum in the EU, Japan, and other markets that allow it. However, this ingredient is not approved yet in the US or Canada.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl TriazoneTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
